Electrical apparatus



Patented Aug. 31, 1931 UNITED-STATES.

PATENT orr cs Y scour: aworarcsr. msas'rtis Blrdsal] Jay Lal oree, Hontonrsville, Pa. Application mm 1, 1m, sum No. 10cm 2 Claims. (01. 241-20) The present invention relates to electrical apparatus and more particularly to power outlets oi the plug-in type wherein electrical extension lines are united with a power outlet.

I In electrical apparatus of this type, it has heretofore been necessary to install wall-mounted accessories, such as lighting ilxtures and air-circulating fans, with independent supports apart from the power outlet or else use elements such 10 as screws for attaching the accessory which necessitates the use oi a variety of tools and operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device embodying novel securing means for uniting a power outlet to a member to be sup- 15 ported thereby.

Another object is to provide such a device in a manner to facilitate quick and easy exchange of the dependent electrical accessories.

A further object oi such a device is to provide go an outlet casing with means for quickly attaching any one of a plurality of electrical appliances without operations requiring the use of tools.

A iurther object is to provide such a device which is strong and rigid and avoids diiiicuit and as expensive manufacturing methods.

A further object is to provide such a device by which a cover plate for the power outlet may be easily substituted for an electrical accessory without the use oi tools or extraneous elements.

so Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in this art from the description taken in'coniunction with the drawing in which Fig. l is a longitudinal cross section of a power outlet assembled together with a member to be as supported thereby.

Fig. 2 is a front view of a power outlet showing the cover partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a lighting appliance in position to be supported by a power outlet casing.

40 Fig. 4 is a side view of an air-circulating appliance in assembled relation with a power-outlet.

Fig. 5- is a transverse midsectional 'view on the linellofl'ig.2ofacoverplatetobeusedwith the power outlet.

as Fig. 8 isa fragmentary perspective view of an element oi the supporting means.

A power outlet is indicated generally at I, having acasing laandaiiixedtoawalllbysuitable meanssuchasserewsl. Thebaseoi'anelecso trical accessory or appliance generally indicated at 2 is supported by the outletcasing In.

A conventional plug-in type receptacle is illustrated at I into which the complementary plug I is introduced to make electrical connection to the B6 dependent electrical appliance.

According to the present invention, means are provided for supporting the dependent electrical appliance and may as here shown be a two part device in the form of an extended slot or recess 1 and an interiltting prong or extension I. 5

Slot members 1 are preferably formed as best shown in Fig. 2 and Fig.3; from a U shaped member and may be suitably attached to the power outlet casing la as by brazing, welding or lugs.

The prong members I are anchored in any suit- 10 able way on base 2 of the appliance and may as here shown be seated in a recess ii formed in the base I. 1

The illuminating appliance l2 illustrated in Fig.

3 is attached by means of the present invention to the outlet casing in in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1.

The air-circulating device it illustrated in Fig.

4 is attached to the'outlet casing I a by means of the present invention in the same manner as in Fig. 1. e

A cover plate for the outlet casing la as represented in Fig. 5 is provided with supporting members I to interiit with slots 1 of Fig. 2.

The supporting members I in this embodiment 01' the invention are attached in any suitable way to the plate It as by brazing, or welding as shown at II.

In utilizing the present invention, an outlet casing in having the slots I formed within is installed in the wall 3 with the slots extending diagonally upward. Receptacle I is then attached to the casing in and electrical conn tions it are made. Finally the cover plate It is applied to the casing by introducing the extensions I into slots 1 and the outlet has the appear ance of any conventional outlet now used in homes or omces.

When it is desired to install some electrical appliance such as alamp(1"ig. 3) or fan (Pig. 4), so it' is merely necessary to remove the plate and introduce the extensions 0 on the base of the appliance into slots I of casing In.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawing. it can readily-be understood that there is here provided a device by which an electrical outlet can be quickly and easily utilized for a plurality of purposes; that the present in vention facilitates the placement of electrical appliancesin the most convenient location with a so minimum oihwork and expense. and that the present device is strongly constructed and easyto It is understood that the present invention is not exclusive'and is not limited by the precise details of description and drawing here given and that changes may be made in the shape and arrangement of the parts, the methods of attachment and other details of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Reference will therefore be made to the appended claims for the scope of my invention in which,

I claim,

1. In combination, an outlet casing and a closure therefor with a mechanical connection therebetween, said connection characterized by a pair of u-shaped members diagonally disposed on the opposingside walisofsaidoutietcasing,anda

BIRDSALL JAY LA FORCE. 

